Parsons v. Parsons
Parsons v. Parsons
Opinion of the Court
There is no inconsistency in the finding’ of the circuit court, that the conveyance from George Parsons to his son, was in part for a valuable consideration, and in part a gift by way
In a learned and exhaustive argument, counsel for the plaintiffs in error contend that the circuit court erred in charging their share of the estate of their grandfather with a gift of this character made to their father. The cases cited well sustain the proposition that according to the long settled and consistent policy of this state, the course of descents is prescribed exclusively' by statute. But this is a rule of inheritance and not a rule of construction. It does not mean that in the application of the provisions of the statute, courts should be unmindful of the equality of inheritance which appears to be a leading object; nor that regard should not be had to all statutory provisions which relate to the subject matter.
The descent of the estate of George Parsons, in-view of his intestacy and the survivorship of some of his own children, and the children of his son William, who had died before him, is determined by the provisions of section 4166, Revised Statutes. This section is a re-enactment, without substantial change, of section seven, of the act of March 14, 1853, to regulate descents. It provides that the estates shall so descend, “that the legal .representatives of the deceased child’*' * * of the intestate, shall inherit equal parts of that portion of the estate to which such deceased child *
The provisions quoted from the statute of descents, are in pari materia with those of section 4169, etseq., relating to advancements. It is contended, upon the one hand, that the latter provisions support the conclusion drawn from the
“If any estate, real or personal, has been given by any intestate in his lifetime as an advancement to any child or children of such intestate, or their descendants, it shall be considered and held to be a part of the estate of the intestate so far as it regards the division and distribution thereof, among his or her children, or their descendants, and shall be taken by such child or children, or their descendants, towards his or her share of the estate of the intestate. ’ ’
Against the soundness of the conclusion of the circuit court, it is urged that our statute of 1853 is dérived from that of Massachusetts, passed in 1835; that section 11, of the'statute of that state,which clearly provides that the representatives of an advanced heir shall be charged as though the advancement had been made directly to them, was omitted from our statute, and that this omission indicates the intention that a different rule should obtain here. But sections 6 and 11 of that statute, relate to the same subject matter, that is, a description of the persons against whom an advancement shall be charged. The section of our statute above quoted, is manifestly more comprehensive than either section of the Massachusetts statute, and its provisions clearly show an intention to combine in one section all the provisions relating to the precise subject. It may be that perspicuity has not followed condensation; but an analysis of the section shows that the advancement to which effect is • given, is an advancement
The judgment of the circuit court accords with this vieto, and it will be afirmed.
Reference
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